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Master the French imperative mood to give orders or advice, using verbs like planter (to plant), finir (to finish), and mettre (to put), with forms for tu, nous, and vous.
  1. In the imperative, there are only three persons: "tu, nous, vous".
  2. For verbs of the first group, the -s ending of the second person is dropped.
Verbe PlanterVerbe FinirVerbe Mettre
TuPlante une fleur ici. (Plant a flower here.)TuFinis ton travail ! (Finish your work!)TuMets tes chaussures ! (Put on your shoes!)
NousPlantons des arbres ensemble (Let's plant trees together)NousFinissons nos assiettes. (Let's finish our plates.)NousMettons de l'eau.  (Let's put some water.)
VousPlantez une fleur là-bas.  (Plant a flower over there.)VousFinissez de manger. (Finish eating.)VousMettez des gants !  (Put on gloves!)

Exceptions!

  1. The verb vouloir has only one form in the imperative: veuillez.

Exercise 1: L'impératif

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

Plantons, Arrose, partez, Goûtons, Cultive, Cultivez, Entre, Plante

1. Entrer + Tu :
... dans la maison et va dans le jardin.
(Enter the house and go into the garden.)
2. Planter + Tu :
... des fleurs dans le jardin.
(Plant flowers in the garden.)
3. Arroser + Tu :
... la terre pendant mes vacances.
(Water the ground during my holidays.)
4. Partir + Vous :
Vous êtes allergiques au plantes, ... !
(If you are allergic to plants, leave!)
5. Cultiver + Tu :
... du maïs dans le champs.
(Cultivate corn in the field.)
6. Cultiver + Vous :
... des fleurs roses pour les vendre.
(Grow pink flowers to sell.)
7. Planter + Nous :
... des nouveaux arbres dans le parc.
(Let's plant new trees in the park.)
8. Goûter + Nous :
... les fruits frais du jardin.
(Let's taste the fresh fruits from the garden.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. _____ la plante tous les jours pour qu'elle grandisse bien.

(_____ the plant every day so that it grows well.)

2. _____ des graines dans la terre pour avoir des fleurs.

(_____ seeds in the soil to have flowers.)

3. _____ bien le jardin cet été !

(_____ the garden well this summer!)

4. Ne _____ pas aux feuilles des arbres, elles sont fragiles.

(Don't _____ the leaves of the trees, they are fragile.)

5. _____ une rose près du banc dans le jardin.

(_____ a rose near the bench in the garden.)

6. _____ l'herbe le matin pour qu'elle reste verte.

(_____ the grass in the morning so that it stays green.)

Understanding the French Imperative Mood (L'impératif)

This lesson introduces the imperative mood in French, commonly used to give orders, advice, or instructions. The imperative is a key part of everyday communication, allowing you to express commands in a clear and direct way.

Who Uses the Imperative?

The imperative only exists in three grammatical persons: tu (you, singular informal), nous (we), and vous (you, plural or formal). These forms are used to address one or more people when giving orders or recommendations.

Formation of the Imperative

Conjugating verbs in the imperative usually mirrors the present tense forms but with some important differences:

  • For regular –er verbs in the tu form, the final -s is dropped. For example: Plante une fleur ici. (Plant a flower here.)
  • For other verbs and forms, the imperative looks similar to the indicative present tense.
  • The verb 'vouloir' (to want) has only one imperative form: veuillez, used in formal commands.

Examples of the Imperative with Different Verbs

Verb Planter (to plant) Verb Finir (to finish) Verb Mettre (to put)
Plante une fleur ici. Finis ton travail ! Mets tes chaussures !
Plantons des arbres ensemble. Finissons nos assiettes. Mettons de l'eau.
Plantez une fleur là-bas. Finissez de manger. Mettez des gants !

Additional Usage Notes

The imperative is not only for orders; it can also be used to give friendly advice or instructions. Note that negative commands are formed by placing ne before and pas after the verb, for example, Ne touche pas aux feuilles.

Differences Between English and French Imperative Forms

In English, the imperative typically uses the base verb form without a subject pronoun, for example, "Plant a flower." In French, the pronoun is also omitted, but verb endings change based on the subject. For instance, the final -s in the tu form is dropped for regular -er verbs, which is a distinct feature of French imperatives.

Useful Phrases to Practice

  • Plante une rose près du banc dans le jardin. (Plant a rose near the bench in the garden.)
  • Finis ton travail rapidement. (Finish your work quickly.)
  • Mettez vos manteaux, il fait froid. (Put on your coats, it’s cold.)
  • Ne touche pas à ça! (Don’t touch that!)
  • Cultivez bien votre potager cet été. (Take good care of your vegetable garden this summer.)

Mastering the imperative will greatly help you communicate instructions and advice in French effectively, making your language use more natural and engaging.

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Azéline Perrin

Bachelor Degree in Applied Foreign Languages

Université de Lorraine

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Last Updated:

Friday, 18/07/2025 04:13